IUR contribution to a
Strategic Research Agenda
in Radioecology
François BRECHIGNAC
President of IUR
STAR Workshop, Paris, France, 12-13 November 2012
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 Context
 Questionnaire
 Results and priorities evolving
 Conclusion
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Context

SRA built by the European Alliance (8 research Institutions)

SRA consultation promoted to identify research priorities. IUR contribution
via providing its worlwide list of members for better dissemination

IUR solicited by the Alliance to provide an international perspective with
respect to radioecology in the future. Ambition to provide a new and
original contribution.

IUR consultation based upon a different perspective to feed prioritization

IUR consultation attempting to widen the scope of the consultation by
exploiting institutional agreements with other networks (IAEA, SPERA,
NREA, NCoRE, Asian Network …)
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The IUR questionnaire

SRA has proposed 15 « lines of research » for the future, consultation to
derive priorities

For research priorities to be of strategic value, it is proposed here to
examine also the influence of the context within which radioecology
evolution and goals are considered.

Radioecology evolves along/through 3 main drivers:
• Radiation protection
• Environmental sciences
• Society (inputs to)

Questionnaire built around 3 major questions, with a wide array of possible
answers to be rated on a scale from most important down to least important
(or not to be considered).
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The IUR questionnaire
Position of radioecology with respect to radioprotection science
What is the target of most importance in future radioecology?





Transfer (and effects) to human being individuals
Environmental media contamionation levels
Transfer and effects to animal and plant individuals
Transfer and effects of populations of animals and plants
Transfer and effects to, and within, ecosystems
Protection of the environment against radiation shall evolve in first
coherence with :


The existing framework for radioprotection of human beings
The other environment protection frameworks against non-radioactive stressors
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The IUR questionnaire
Position of radioecology with respect to environmental sciences
What is important, strategic or pertinent for tomorrow’s radioecology to
consider?




Feeding tracer studies to improve understanding of biogeochemical cycles, streams,
etc.
Acquiring knowledge on more different species to better account for worldwide
biodiversity
Prioritizing toxicological approaches (radiotoxicity in molecules up to individual
organisms – biology)
Prioritizing ecological approaches (ecosystem-centred approach featuring interpecies
relationships – ecology)
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The IUR questionnaire
Position of radioecology with respect to society (public and
authorities)




In situ observations in the environment
Understanding transfer/effects/interaction processes (basic science)
Predictions for risk assessment (modeling)
Translating scientific knowledge into regulations and assessment tools
Position of IUR with respect to radioecology

IUR is an independent, non-profit, and non-governmental association of professional
radioecologists which you have been supporting during the last years through your
membership. In the context of promoting Radioecology research and developments,
and given the efforts undertaken in Europe via the STAR project, do you consider that
IUR should coordinate on a worldwide basis other continental initiatives such as to
ensure an optimised and balanced development of efforts?
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Who answered ? Overview
Dispersion by geographic area
Europe
Asie Australie
Cis
Afrique
Asia, Australia
36
44% Australia
Europe
83
12% France
CIS country
28
52% Russia
Africa
9
22% Nigeria
South America
7
71% Brazil
North America
7
57% USA
Status of respondents
Amérique Sud
Amérique Nord
Members 82
non members
88
Only 3 weeks to answer
82
88
170 reponses from 48 countries
~ half non-IUR members
Essentially from outside the Alliance
Europe
Asia Australia
CIS
Africa
South America
North America
total
83
37
28
8
7
7
170
48,80%
21,80%
16,50%
4,70%
4,10%
4,10%
100,00%
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Radioecology and radiation protection science
Protection of the environment against radiation shall evolve
in first coherence with...
Respondants number
120
100
80
first priority
60
40
least priority
20
0
the existing framework for
radioprotection of human
beings
1
the other environment
protection frameworks against
non-radioactive stressors
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Radioecology and radiation protection science
Priority targets (issues rated as most important)
for each potential answer
[Transfer (and effects) to
human being individuals]
90
[Transfer and effects to,
and within, ecosystems ]
Respondants number
80
70
60
50
Most important
Least important
40
30
20
[Transfer and effects to
populations of animals and
plants]
[Environmental media
contamination levels]
10
0
1
[Transfer and effects to
animals and plant
individuals]
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Radioecology and Environmental sciences
(issues rated as very important,
strategic or pertinent)
90
Respondants number
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
[Prioritizing ecological approaches
(ecosystem-centered approach
featuring interspecies relationshipsecology)]
[Feeding tracer studies to improve
understanding of biogeochemical
cycles, streams, etc]
Very important
Important
Desirable
Least important
Not to be considered
10
0
1
[Prioritizing toxicological
approaches (radiotoxicity in
molecules up to individual
organisms - biology)]
[Acquiring knowledge on more
different species to better account
for worldwide biodiversity]
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Radioecology and inputs to society
(Rated as most important)
100
Respondants number
90
[Understanding
transfer/effects/interaction
processes (basic science) ]
[Translating scientific
knowledge into regulations
and assessment tools]
80
70
60
50
[Predictions for risk
assessment (modelling)]
40
30
20
10
0
1
[In situ observations in the
environment]
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Role of IUR with respect to worldwide radioecology
IUR is an independent, non-profit, and non-governmental association of professional radioecologists
which you have been supporting during the last years through your membership. In the context of
promoting Radioecology research and developments, and given the efforts undertaken in Europe via
the STAR project, do you consider that IUR should coordinate on a worldwide basis other continental
initiatives such as to ensure an optimised and balanced development of efforts.
6 with no explanation
1 recommending to boost
international legislation
(not the role of IUR)
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Preliminary conclusions
EP to evolve in coherence with both the human radiation protection system and other
environment protection frameworks with equal importance
High priority targets for radioprotection:
 human individuals and ecosystems
 populations of animals and plants
Reduced priority targets for radioprotection:
 environmental media contamination levels
 individuals of animals and plants
High priority scientific approaches:
 ecological inference (ecosystemcentered)
 tracer studies, biogeochemical cycles
Reduced-priority scientific approaches:
 toxicol. inference (molecules->individuals)
 embracing more biodiversity
Inputs of highest importance to society from radioecology is to improve the
understanding of processes (tranfers, effects, interactions)
Other inputs (regulation and assessment tools, predictions for ERA, in-situ
observations) are also important, all equally
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Preliminary conclusions, still…
Radioecologists generally point towards more ecology (ecocentrism) in the
future than before
Meanwhile, radioecologists do not forget about the importance of their long
standing « environmental » contribution to human radioprotection
This priority identification is based on a simple ranking procedure: it does
not mean that high priority issues only should be touched upon and
reduced priority issues just ignored
Note: Questions about radioecology inputs to society provide the vision
form the radioecology community, not from society itself…
Would be of interest to complete the scene by promoting the consultation
within the European Alliance membership (only a few did respond)
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